Abstract
MWC560 is an emission-line star catalogued1in 1943 and later described2 as an 'extraordinary symbiotic-like variable'. It was recently found3 to be undergoing a photometric and spectroscopic outburst. A dramatic change has occurred in the ultraviolet spec-trum of MWC560, so that it now closely resembles the spectrum of a nova shortly after outburst. This event, detected by the International Ultraviolet Explorer satellite, may signal a major mass-ejection episode such as presumably occurred in past centuries in the symbiotic star R Aquarii to produce the well-known bipolar nebula, and it may herald the emergence of a standard symbiotic-star emission-line spectrum in MWC560, corresponding to a change in evolutionary state.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Merrill, P. W. & Burwell, C. G. Astrophys. J. 98, 153–184 (1943).
Bond, H. E., Pier, J., Pilachowski, C., Solvak, M. & Szkody, P. Bull. Am. Astr. Soc. 16, 516 (1984).
Tomov, T. et al. Nature 346, 637–638 (1990).
Sanduleak, N. & Stephenson, C. B. Astrophys. J. 185, 899–913 (1973).
Michalitsianos, A. G. et al. Astrophys. J. (in the press).
Bode, M. F. & Evans, A. in Classical Novae (eds Bode, M. F. & Evans, A.) 163–186 (Wiley, New York, 1989).
Stryker, L. L. et al. in A Decade of UV Astronomy with the IUE Satellite Vol. 1 (ed. Rolfe, E. J.) 149–152 (European Space Agency, Paris, 1988).
McNaught, R. H. et al. IAU Circ. No. 3969 (1984).
Kosai, H., Honda, M. & Wakuda, W. & Norimoto, Y. IAU Circ. No. 4281 (1986).
Krisciunas, K. et al. IAU Circ. No. 4282 (1986).
Wehrse, R., Hauschildt, P. H., Shaviv, G. & Starrfield, S. in Evolutioh in Astrophysics (ed. Rolfe, E. J.) 461–466 (European Space Agency, Paris, 1990).
Margon, B. Nature 346, 611 (1990).
Michalitsianos, A. G. & Kafatos, M. in The Symbiotic Phenomenon (eds Mikolajewska, J., Friedjung, M., Kenyon, S. J. & Viotti, R.) 235–243 (Kluwer. Dordrecht, 1988).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Maran, S., Michalitsianos, A., Oliversen, R. et al. Spectral transformation of the unusual variable star MWC560 to resemble a nova. Nature 350, 404–406 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1038/350404a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/350404a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
